Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in health, ethnicity and marriage.

The population reached nearly quarter of a million

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Wolverhampton increased by 5.5%, from just under 237,000 to 249,000.

The addition of almost 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wolverhampton was home to, on average, 26 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the West Midlands' third-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Wolverhampton

Latest census data also show that the median age of Wolverhampton remained 37 years in the decade to 2011.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than the West Midlands and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 5,900 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 14% of people in Wolverhampton are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wolverhampton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

Wolverhampton saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of unemployed people.

During this period, Wolverhampton overtook 16 local authority areas, including Lambeth and Liverpool, to become the English local authority area with the second-highest percentage of unemployed people.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.9%) people aged 16 to 74 in Wolverhampton said they were unemployed, compared with 5.3% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 49%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of unemployed people occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 4.5% to 7.3%).

The rate of unemployment in Wolverhampton increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton saw the West Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.2%) in Wolverhampton reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.8% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.1% to 4.7%.

Across the region, Stoke-on-Trent saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 6.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wolverhampton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.2% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Wolverhampton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wolverhampton decreased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Wolverhampton saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) households in Wolverhampton had a single parent, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 33% to 29%.

Across the region, Coventry saw the next largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households (from 12% in 2001 to 14% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of single-parent households, as the regional average grew from 10% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Wolverhampton saw the West Midlands' joint second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents, alongside Coventry. The largest rise was seen in Birmingham

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) households in Wolverhampton had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 31%.

During this period, Wolverhampton overtook four local authority areas, including Lichfield and Tamworth, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Wolverhampton

In 2011, 68% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 78% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Wolverhampton.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of residents from the White ethnic groups fell from 89% to 83%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

Around 18% of people in Wolverhampton said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 15% in 2001. About 6.9% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from 4.6% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) rose from 2.7% to 5.1% between the last two censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wolverhampton decreased by 9.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wolverhampton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton saw the West Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37%) people aged 16 and over in Wolverhampton said they were single, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 49% to 44%.

Across the region, only Worcester (from 30% to 37%) and Stoke-on-Trent (from 30% to 36%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 29% to 34%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Wolverhampton that rented privately increased from 7.1% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households lived in social housing, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage of Wolverhampton households that owned their home decreased from 60% to 57%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Wolverhampton increased by 6.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Wolverhampton working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 3.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Wolverhampton increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wolverhampton, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Wolverhampton residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.6% to 3.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.7%) reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 2.3% in 2001 to 2.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Wolverhampton remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wolverhampton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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